Scott & Betsy Peterson

Scott has led The Hill Vallejo as its Senior Pastor for over 25 years. His passion is to serve a culturally diverse, multi­generational group of people who relentlessly pursue the Gospel. Scott's desire is for people to connect within the church while building relationships throughout the communities where they live and work, encouraging others to follow Jesus free from traditional religious trappings.

Scott and his wife, Betsy, migrated west from Minnesota with an 11-year stop in Nebraska. They have 7 children and 12 grandchildren, affectionately known as “the boo­gang!”

Jared & Jamie Dyson

Gwynn Greenwell

Associate Pastor

Gwynn serves as an Associate Pastor at The Hill Vallejo. She directs the Nurture woman's ministries here at The Hill Vallejo. She wants to see women be a triple threat—fully whole in mind, body, and spirit. Getting women connected and finding their place in the Body is also high on her desire for God’s Girls.

Gwynn’s family—The G­Unit—is comprised of Gwynn, her husband Michael of 24­years, their two sons Joshua and Jordan, and daughter Kaylah. An avid basketball family, they’re always ready for a pick­up game.Gwynn currently works full­time outside of ministry. Her favorite authors/speakers include, Joyce Meyer, John & Lisa Bevere, and Sean Smith

Cassie Hizon

LHK Baby Bay Director

Baby Bay is your child's first introduction into our Lighthouse Kids family. Your sweet babies experience God's amazing love through the loving arms, warm smiles and devoted prayers of our staff and volunteers. At Baby Bay, we love being able to welcome our newest additions to The Hill while being a support base to parents.

I have been married to my husband, Darrel, for eight years. We have three little girls who keep life fun! We enjoy exploring new places, hiking, spending time with family and game nights with friends.

Emerald McDonnell

Worship & Creative Arts Director

Emerald serves as the Worship & Creative Arts Director. Along with serving on the worship team, she heads the Student Ministries worship team and coordinates all children's musicals.

Creativity through art and music is very close to Emerald’s heart. She smiles the biggest when she is dancing, singing, making a personalized gift, or something of the like. In her opinion, any chance she gets to aide in others strengthening their skills and growing in their own creativity is a chance worth taking.

Emerald would describe herself as “a creative person who loves empathy, love, music, making terrariums, and napping”. She is currently working on degrees in music and psychology. She has been a choreographer for the past 5 years. If she is not at work you will probably find her listening to a podcast or interview. Some of her vocal inspirations are Adele, John Legend, Corrinne Bailey Rae, and Lianne La Havas. Some of her favorite Christian acts are Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, and Bethel Music. She loves giving genuine answers to genuine questions, so don’t be shy.

Kendrick Moses

Worship & Creative Arts Pastor

Kendrick is serving as the Creative Arts and Worship Pastor at The Hill. Originally from Charleston, SC, he moves to the Bay from Atlanta, Georgia where he spent the last few years as a Worship Leader at North Point Community church under the leadership of Andy Stanley. He brings years of experience of leading worship having been involved in some prominent Christian organizations (Orange, Rethink, Passion, Northpoint Ministries, Newspring Church, Seacoast Church, Willow Creek Community Church). He has spent the past several years traveling the US leading worship in various capacities such as conferences, camps, and Sunday mornings.

Caleb Parker

Student Ministries Director

Caleb serves as the Student Ministries Director working with students from 6th grade through 12th grade in The Circuit. Caleb is passionate about helping students discover how to engage in their faith in a way that makes sense for them. He loves to help teenagers see their potential, and challenge them to grow in their own unique ways.

He is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University and is currently studying at Fuller Seminary.

In his free time, Caleb loves to read, explore different restaurants, and occasionally rock climb indoors. You’ll often find him driving absurd distances for boba and likely end up with a recommendation for a book after a conversation. A few of Caleb’s favorite books are East of Eden, Daring Greatly, Garden City, and Strength to Love.

Kevin Parker

Senior Associate Pastor

Kevin serves as the Senior Associate Pastor at The Hill. Managing the church's facilities and numerous ministry groups grants him the opportunity to lead others into a growing relationship with the Lord. Whether he is leading Bible studies, men’s breakfasts, training leaders or guiding newcomers through NEXT on Sunday mornings, Kevin's goal is to let people know they are valued here at The Hill, while assisting them in finding the path for their spiritual journey in following Jesus.

Kevin and his wife Teresa, moved to the Bay Area in 2001 after years of full-time ministry in churches across the state of Oregon. Home and family are a true priority in their lives, and one of the things that they enjoy most each year is getting away on a family camping trip with four generations of their family. They have three adult children; Joshua and Kaylyn (their amazing daughter in love) Caleb and Taijannah. They truly love being grandparents to their three grandchildren, Troy, Weston and Marie and always look forward to the many adventures with each of them.

Tammy Payne

Children's Pastor

Tammy serves as the Pastor over Lighthouse Kids Ministries at The Hill Vallejo, ministering to children from birth thru 5th grade. She believes that a children’s ministry is where we have a chance to engage the hearts of children when they are most open to the Gospel. Her heart is for the babies to experience the love of Christ when they are in the loving care of the Baby Bay staff and receive prayer during the services. When the children of preschool and kindergarten age go to Waterfront Kids, they will start to get their feet wet and be introduced to Jesus, to learn, and experience His love and goodness and be His “Forever Friend”. When the Elementary­age kids attend The Pier, they are ready to be anchored in Christ, have the Word of God in the port of their hearts, getting ready to set sail and tell the world!

Her passion is Christ, her ministry is children and her goal is for children to have a life­long, eternity­long relationship with Jesus.She also believes that encouraging and partnering with parents can equip them so they can be the primary faith leader in their homes.

Tammy is married to John, and they have three adult children; Johnny and Mia (their daughter­ in love), Andrew, and Amber. They have the joy of being a grandparent to one grandson, Lucas. Both John and Tammy love to travel, and walk along the sandy shores of a beach, Tammy especially loves history and museums, and loves to paint, draw, write stories, and play the piano, all for the enjoyment of creating something new.

Cheryl Portillo

Director of First Impressions

As the Director of First Impressions, Cheryl utilizes her passion for both creating visual elements that represent The Hill Vallejo and creating environments that are welcoming and practical. In addition, she serves as Youth Director, alongside her husband Fi.

Cheryl and Fi are High School Sweethearts and are married with 3 kids. Life is definitely full and fun and there’s never a dull moment.

Aside from her roles at The Hill, Cheryl is also a business owner. A few things that she enjoys are traveling crazy distances to try new restaurants, being creative while making memories, hiking, and spending sunny afternoons on a skateboard.

Fi Portillo

Student Ministries Pastor

Fi serves as the Student Ministries Pastor at The Hill. He is passionate about bringing hope to people by helping them see that they are welcome in God’s story and communicating his story in everyday language.

He is married to his high school sweetheart, Cheryl. Together they have three children aged between early middle school to late high school.

Fi enjoys hiking and traveling to find great places to try new food.

He loves listening to 90’s music along with Hillsong United, Johnnyswim, Andy Mineo, and Social Club Misfits. Fi enjoys reading and listening to Bob Goff, Levi Lusko, Robert Madu, and Andy Stanley. His favorite movies include The Goonies, The Book of Eli, Lilo & Stitch, The Incredibles, Star Wars, and Black Panther.

Autum Prater

LHK Intern

Autum is currently a college student studying film and an artist. Her family began attending The Hill around 2004 when a neighbour invited them. Soon after they became part of The Hill family. Autum's mother began volunteering in childrens ministry when the youngest of her 4 sisters was 2. When Autum was 12 she joined her mother and has worked in different areas of childrens ministry ever since.

Andrea Spinardi

Discipleship Director

In her role as Discipleship Director, Andrea oversees Marriage Ministries, Sermon Based Discussion Groups, and Growth Tracks at The Hill Vallejo. She has taught bible courses through Urban Bible Training Center, and has lead bible study groups for children to adults.

Andrea’s passion is biblical literacy and her ministry is the local church. Her goal is to have believers from new to their faith to mature to come to know and love Jesus and to walk out their part of His Kingdom through the study of Scripture.

Andrea is married to Ted, whom she met at Oral Roberts University where she graduated. She and her husband have two sons, and a new daughter in love.

Ted Spinardi

Executive Pastor

As Executive Pastor, Ted oversees administration, finance, and technology. This role encompasses implementation and communication of the mission, vision, and values of The Hill Vallejo. Ted is passionate about creating comfortable, contemporary, and casual environments for people to connect with one another and with God.

He brings to The Hill years of corporate management experience and currently owns a financial planning practice in Fairfield. Ted is actively involved in serving the local community through Vallejo Outreach and other nonprofit groups. He and his wife, Andrea, have two sons.

Ted’s musical tastes run the gamut, featuring artists such as Johnnyswim, Guns N' Roses, and Propaganda. As for books, beside his bed there is always a copy of Andy Stanley’s Communicating for a Change, David Marrow’s Why Men Hate Church, Outdoor Life’s Ultimate Survival Guide, and the NRA’s Illustrated History of Firearms. His favorite movies are Napoleon Dynamite and Four Christmases.

Elvi Victa

Director of Fun

Elvi and her husband have been married for 8 years and have 3 children, Raina, Roel & Mattea. She is currently working for the Vallejo School District. Elvi loves to stay active, go out for runs, food adventures, and having FUN!

Mark Victa

Director of Community Engagement & Activities

Mark Victa serves as Director of Community Engagement & Activities and also helps with THV Marriage Ministry and The Circuit Student Ministries as a youth leader. Mark Victa and his family (The Victas!) have been a part of The Hill Vallejo community since 2011. Mark’s passion and goal is to share God’s love and the good news of Jesus through community, service, fun, and adventure!

You can find Mark living, working, and playing in his hometown, Vallejo, Ca! Mark enjoys outdoor activities, playing sports and board games, spending time with family, eating raw fish, drinking Milk Tea, and exercising!

Janet West

Finance Director

Janet is the Finance Director at The Hill Vallejo, and has held various positions since 1982.

Her church membership began in her teens, and she has served in Children’s Ministries, on Short Term Missions, in the Choir where her family was known as the “West Family Singers,” and as an Adult Small Group Host/Facilitator.

Janet met her husband, Daniel, at The Hill and has been married for 40 years. They have a son and a daughter, two grandsons and five granddaughters.

Her life is a balancing act ­ striving to know and serve God, work, and family.